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Waxman-Markey

Eighty percent of Missouri's electricity is generated by 21 coal-fired power plants. These plants emit more than 75 million tons of carbon dioxide annually This emission is the equivalent of the exhaust from 15 million hypothetical average-sized cars. Of course, this is in addition to the 4.2 million vehicles actually on Missouri roadways!

Presently, Missouri ranks among the five lowest states in retail electricity rates. Producer costs--typically about $30 per megawatt hour--could double due to proposed federal legislation.

Under the "cap and trade" provisons of the Waxman-Markey proposal, power plants and other CO2 emitting industries would need permits for every emitted ton. Unused permits could be sold to other companies, but national emissions would have to be reduced by 20% by 2020--and by a whopping 83% by 2050.